1) Anthony hopkins
2) Marlon Brando
3) Robert Deniro
4) Robert Duval
5) Richard Harris
6) (early) Al Pacino
7) Morgan Freeman
8) Russel Crowe
9) Helen Mirren
10) George C. Scott
11) Ian mklellan
12) Malcolm Mcdowell
13) (early) Jack Nichholson
14) Martin Sheen
15) Mickey Rourke
16) Benecio Del Toro
17) Johnny Depp
18) Denzel Washington
19) Toshiro Mifune
20) Christopher Walken
21) Rutger Hauer
22) Gian Maria Volonte
23) Viggo Mortensen
24) Harvey Keitel
25) Jeff Bridges
26) Donald Sutherland
27) Frank Langella
28) Cristopher Lee
29) Gary Oldman
30) Cate Blanchett
31) Kevin Spacey
32) Michael Caine
33) Val Kilmer
34) Willem Dafoe
35) Tommy Lee Jones
36) Robert Shaw
37) Steve Buscemi
38) John Goodman
39) James earl Jones
40) Christopher Lambert
41) Steve McQueen
42) James Cagney
43) Alan Arkin
44) Peter Dinklage
45) Ed Harris
46) Alec Guiness
47) Alan Richman
48) Terrance Stamp:
49) James Purefoy: I first saw him in the H.B.O. series Rome where he played mark anthony to sadistically charming perfection. He went on to do alot of low budget but watchable period actioners playing knights and witch hunters that were below his considerable acting skills. It looked like he was finally going to get to show his chops on the Fox series the Following, and he has, unfortunately the show has become somewhat rediculous.
50) Bruce Campbell: Gotta love that camp is in his name as he’s known for starring in some of the wonderfully campiest movies of all time! He’s very watchable and never resorts to Jim Carey-isms to let you know he’s in on the joke.
Just Missed It
– Actors who were very close to making my top fifty
1) John Tuturro: A great character actor; from sweaty game show contestant, to escaped hillbilly prisoner, to twitchy screenwriter, to obsessive compulsive pack rat, Tuturro is the voice of the socially awkward…He also does a fine job as a voice actor and cuban nationalist in the audio version of World War Z.
2) James Cromwell: Its ironic that he’s best known for playing authority figures since he was a proud member of the counter culture who dated a black panther…neither here nor there, just thought it was fascinating. Like some others on this list he seems to be able to take one note characters and create an orchestra. His parts are often small but memorable. My personal favorite is Dudley Smith, the old irish cop in L.A. confidential who will do whatever it takes to keep the city of angels in his pocket.
3) Ian Holm: Most well known as Bilbo today, one might be suprised to see him as a homicidal android in the original Alien or as a strict disciplinarian who cures The madness of King George. This actor is a master of making the small performance large.
4) Sam Rockwell: I love the choices he makes as an actor, from; confessions of a dangerous mind, to hitchikers guide, to the thought provoking moon (one of the most underrated sci-fi movies in my opinion), he’s always testing himself and scoring quite well on said test.
5) Paul Newman: The guy has presence, while perhaps not the most technically gifted actor out there you watched him and waited to see him again. If you were a woman, forget about it, i would almost date this guy.
6) Lee Van Cleef: Type cast as a western actor, Van Cleef had an aura of menance and quite contemplation that could have been used for so much more.
7) Ian McShane: His performance as Al Swearengen in Deadwood alone should have catapulted him into greater things, sadly this hasn’t been the case. As with Deadwood he seems to be brought into mediocre productions to legitimize them with his acting ability.
8) Sean Bean: He is often able to imbue a one demisional character with several emotional layers, having the gift to make himself appear both invincible and vulnerable.
9) Sandra Bullock: A solid actress who rises above the expectations one might have of “the hot chick” in a movie. She’ also resisted the urge so many attractive leading ladies get as they age to plump their lips, jack up their tits and pull their faces back.
10) Derek Jacobi: Perhaps best recognized as Senator Gracchus from the movie Gladiator, he is a classically trained actor in the Shakesperian style. He has been knighted in both England and Denmark for his contribution to theatre and always makes any movie he is in better, though his parts are often small.
Honorable Mentions
– These are actors I recognize as very good but are not my personal favorites, sometimes this is simply due to me having seen very little of their work.
1) Lawrence Olievier: He has been called the greatest actor in the english speaking world, i cant agree or refute this as i’ve seen very little of his work and even if i did today there is a major time gap.
2) Peter Sellers: Quite honestly I havent seen enough of his work to put him on a favorites list though what i have seen i have enjoyed.
3) Meryl Streep: I know she’s great but she isn’t in alot of movies i enjoy.
4) Ben Kingsley: See Meryl Streep
5) Judi Dench: See Ben Kingsley, it would also be nice to see her in something where she isn’t so sour.
6) Dustin Hoffman: Like Meryl I recognize he’s very good but he isn’t in any movie I really enjoy, also dare i say that occasionally i think he phones it in.
7) Robert Downey Jr: Liked him better when he was tortured but you cant blame a guy for getting his life back together…not a fan of his big budget forays, though he’s good in them for what they are.
8) Gene Hackman: Another very good actor who isnt in alot of my favorite films, it would also be nice to seem him play a character who isnt a hard ass just to see if he can.
9) Edward Norton: To me he’s overrated and seems to take himself a bit too seriously, American History X was a very good performance however.
10) Daniel Day Lewis: Speaking of taking yourself a bit too seriously, Lewis reportedly will not make break character even off set. While this is a fine Andy Kaufman act it seems a bit unneccesary. I also think he lacks sublety, for me his voices are way over the top, especially as Bill the Butcher and Daniel Plainview (yes his last name was plainview). That being said, no one can say he doesnt take his job seriously and he has been in some very good movies.